Rogers’ campaign in meltdown mode after being outraised by potential GOP primary opponent Bill Huizenga
LANSING — Mike Rogers’ second Senate run is going just as poorly as his last one. Rogers was slammed yesterday for lying about his fundraising numbers – with FEC reports revealing he raised only half of his initially-announced $1.5M into his campaign.
In reality, Rogers raised only $745,000 into his campaign and was outraised by his potential GOP primary opponent Bill Huizenga. After reporters called out the misrepresentation, the Rogers campaign responded with a late-night meltdown, issuing a three-paragraph statement doubling down on the lie.
Detroit Free Press: Michigan U.S. Senate race: Who’s winning — and losing — the fundraising sweepstakes
- [Rogers’] campaign finance report is straightforward enough — he raised $745,000 since announcing his candidacy in April[.]
- Where things get a bit confusing around Rogers’ fundraising is that his campaign is insisting that it raised $1.5 million in the three-month period ending June 30 when you also count the $779,000 Team Rogers also raised during that time. But as the nomenclature of a “joint fundraising account” makes clear, that money can (and likely will) also be shared to some degree with other groups, including (according to Team Rogers’ organizational statements) the National Republican Senatorial Committee in Washington, which helps GOP candidates nationally.
Detroit News: Rogers’ early fundraising lags that of top Democratic contenders in Michigan Senate race
- But the individual fundraising number reported by [Mike Rogers’] primary campaign committee came in under what some U.S. House candidates across the country reported Tuesday, including U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, a Holland Republican who is mulling a Senate campaign and who raised about $746,700.
- Rogers’ haul is also less than the totals reported by Michigan’s three top Democratic primary contenders for Senate in recent weeks.
- “It’s probably not the number they hoped for, but the reality is Michigan donors have really checked out for the last couple election cycles, and when they have gotten energized, it’s with a focus on the state Legislature,” said Jason Cabel Roe, a Republican consultant in Michigan.
Washington Examiner: GOP’s Mike Rogers lags behind challengers in bid to flip Michigan Senate seat
- Mike Rogers (R-MI) brought in $745,000 during the second quarter for his main Senate campaign account, lagging behind all his Democratic challengers and a House Republican weighing a primary challenge.
- The campaign initially released misleading figures claiming a three-month haul of $1.5 million; however, filings with the Federal Election Commission revealed that figure included another $778,000 from a “Team Rogers” joint fundraising committee.
- Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect public documents and latest campaign filings. The figure released initially by Rogers’s campaign was inaccurate for his Senate campaign account. The Washington Examiner regrets the error.
Punchbowl News: Highlights from FEC filing day
- Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) raised $745,000 in Q2 for his Michigan Senate bid and had $1.1 million in cash-on-hand. Rogers said in a news release that he raised $1.5 million, but he was including his total from his joint fundraising committee, which raised $779,000. JFCs and campaign accounts have different contribution limits.
- Rogers was outraised by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), who is considering a Senate run. Huizenga raised $747,000 and has $1.4 million in the bank.
Punchbowl News, Ally Mutnick: “It is very misleading to combine these. Do not do this! These are public filings. We will find out.”
Punchbowl News, Ally Mutnick: “And in related #MISEN news: Rep Bill Huizenga, who is considering a Senate run, raised $747K + has $1.4M in cash on hand. So Huizenga outraised Rogers”
Washington Examiner, Ramsey Touchberry: “This story was updated after FEC filings revealed the camp misleadingly included a joint fundraising committee. His main account raised $745K, lagging all Dem opponents & potential primary rival.”
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